Potato planting machine



Nov. ll, 1952 c. T. sMlTs 2,617,557

POTATO PLANTING MACHINE Aitor-hey Nov. l1, 1952 c. T. sMlTs 2,617,557

POTATO PLANTING MACHINE Filed June 2l, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inv/enter: CH-Lstanumenckovusmitg Atfovney' l Nov. l1, 1952 c. T. SM1-rs 2,617,557

PoTATo PLANTING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1949 4 sheets-sheet s lnJentor Clwstianus-Hxeodm mts Attorney Nov. 1l, 1952 c. T. SMI-rs 2,517,557

POTATO PLANTING MACHINE Filed June 21. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheei 4 Alovney Patented Nov. 1952 UNITED STATES OFFICE Christianus Theodorus Smits, Borkel and Schaft, Netherlands Application June 21, 1949, Serial No. 100,398 In the Netherlands June 26, 1948 24 Claims. 1

The invention relates to a potato planting machine.

The known machines for this purpose are complicated and expensive. En general, they require an operator for each planting row for which the machine is intended. Moreover, the operation of these machines is often irregular, sothat it may happen that two or more potatoes are planted at the same time, or that a planting spot is passed over.

It is an object of the invention to provide a potato planting machine of relatively simple and inexpensive construction. Another object of the invention is to provide a potato planting machine adapted to plant potatoes simultaneously in a plurality o-f rows without requiring a separate operator for each row.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a potato planting machine with a substantially regular operation, which deposits one potato in every planting spot without skipping any such spots.

A further object of the invention is to provide a potato planting machine which is adapted to plant potatoes of diiferent sizes without preliminary sorting,

A still further object of the invention is to provide a potato planting machine with a feeler detecting a failure whereby a planting spot would be skipped and controlling a stand-by device which supplies an additional potato for such a planting spot.

Other objects of the invention, and the exact nature thereof, will be apparent from the following description of some embodiments of the invention, given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a potato planting machine according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an appertaining plan view.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on an enlarged scale, taken along the line III-III of Fig, 2.

Fig. 4 is a detailed cross-section, likewise on an enlarged scale taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2 and showing the stand-.by device.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on a smaller scale, taken along the line V-V of Fig. 2.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 represent parts of an improved feeler- Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show stand-by devices, and feelers cooperating therewith.

In the drawings, i indicates a storage tank for potatoes, which has been mounted together with the remaining parts of the device on a frame 2. The frame has only partially been shown, and

may form a part of a self-contained agricultural vehicle, to be propelled by horseor motor-traction. However, the potato planting device may also have the shape of a two-wheeled assembly, to be hooked on to `an agricultural implement, such as a plough or a furrower. Furthermore, it will be clear that the potato planting device may be combined in the usual way with other tilling apparatus, such as the above mentioned furrower. Sowing pipes which are shaped as furrowers per se may be applied for leading the seedpotato into the furrow, the apparatus may be combined with means for closing the furrow, and other similar combinations are possible.

Under the storage tank, a regulating disc 3 has been provided, by means of which the supply of potatoes to a vibrating conveyor 4 is controlled. This vibrating conveyor is actuated, for instance, by the axle of the wheels 25 which support the frame. This has been schematically indicated in Fig. 2 by an arm 33, which is connected with the conveyor and is supported at its free end by a roller 5, xedly keyed to the axle 6. This roller is provided with an irregular surface, whereby the arm 3l! is actuated upon movement of the axle 6. The said irregularity of the surface may consist of a fluting or of -a groove in which a cam or roller of the arm 30 is running. This has been indicated in the drawings by a zigzag line on the roller 5. For that matter, the abovementioned parts have only been schematically shown, because they are known per Se in various forms.

At its discharge end 33', the vibrating conveyor l passes into two troughs 3| and 32, sloping to the left and to the right, respectively and ending in funnel shaped parts 33 and 34. Each of these funnels has a slot 8, or 8 respectively, in its side wall, which extends to the bottom openings 35 and 3S of the funnels.

A spindle 6' lies -above the axle i5, and is driven by the axle with the aid of a gearing 31, 38. For instance, the spindle 6 may perform four revolutions for each revolution of the axle. Two levers 'l and l" with equal arms are xedly arranged. on the spindle 6', and provided at each end with a pinning-up needle il] for the potatoes, projecting in the direction of rotation (cf. Fig. 3) The path of the needles I0 of each arm 1, 1 leads through the middle of the bottom hole of a funnel. Thus, the needle lil of the arm 1 passes through the funnel 9. The slot 8 in this funnel serves for passing the arm 1. As potatoes are regularly supplied to the funnel 9 by the feeding device il, 3l, so that there is always a potato lying in a centered position in the bottom hole 35 of the funnel 9, this potato is pinned up on the needle in passing. The potato is then led upwards through the funnel .by the arm 'I and the needle IIJ, which may be indicated together as a potatopicker. The bottom part of the slot 8 has been widened at the point where the needle passes through theslot, YaS- shown in Fig. 2v so thatthe pinned-up V,potato'may pass through the slot vat this point. It will be clear that the bottom opening 35 must be so narrow that the smallest potatoes used as seed-potatoes do not ,drop through this hole,

Preferably, the needle is so long 4and;o., thrl that it penetrates at least to the centre of ;.theV

potato on pinning up a seed-potato of meansize.

The pinned-up potato describes the path shown by the dotted line 39 in Fig. 1.

Now, the potato must drop from the needle into the planting furrow or into a sowing pipe leadingto the planting furrowat a point of the path oppositeto the funnel opening. 3 5. However, the natural weight of the potato is not suicient for this purpose, andthat is why awiping-off device has. been ,provided for each needle.

As shownin Fig. 3, a vdouble-armed lever 4|), rotatable abouta shaft 4|, has been providedat each needle. By means of a spring bladey 28, this lever isv normallyv kept in theV position, wherein the wiping-oil end 42.of the lever 40 lies. atthe footofgthe needley I0. In the opposite part of the path 39, a resilient striker 29,.iixedly vattached to -the frame, projects into this path. This resilient strikerv may begconstituted,l for instance of ,a rubber` strip, and kit is arranged in such apointthat the end 43 of the wiping-ohc lever `4|! runs up against the striker when the arm'l passes. Thus, the end 431s Vpressed against the arm 1, andthe wiping-01T end 42 wipes the potato from the needle I0. Upon continued rotation of the arm 1, the strip 29 is pressed down and tothe side, .and` after the arm has passed, thestrip jumps back into its former position. The potato picker l', running through the funnel 8', operates in a similar manner.

It will be clear that the planting machine may ,be provided, if desired, with additional potatopickers and associated funnels, so that potatoes may be planted in, more than two furrows lyingk side by side. The feeding device supplying the .Potatoes to the funnels will have to be carriedv out in multiple inthis case, in accordance with the number of potato pickers.

If the speed of rotation of the potato picker and the reaction velocity of the parts cooperating therewith are adapted to this purpose, it is also conceivable to provide the potato picker with additional arms describing the same path and passing through the same funnel; for instance, four arms may be used, including angles of 90 between them.

The above-described device maybe extended in a simple manner with a stand-by device for increasing the security that no planting spots are skipped in the planting furrow. This is because the supply of potatoes through the vibrating conveyor 4.and the troughs 3| and 32 to the funnels`33 and 34 must proceed so regularly that the potatoes slide to the funnel as a layer, and thatronly one or a few potatoes are in the funnel at each time. By jerks of the vehicle due to the irregular surface of the eld, or by othercauses, an irregularity in this supply may sometimes occur, so that no potato is pinned up on' the needleIIl at thedesiredmoment. Now,

' ber V44.

,.4 an additional opening II, or respectively has been provided in each of the troughs 3| and 32. An annular sliding member 44 is provided under each opening (cf. Figs. 4 and 5). This sliding member will therefore always contain one potato, whilst the supply to the funnel opening 35 is continued interruptedly: these potatoes simply roll over vand along the potato in the sliding member 44. A spring 23 is attached with one end to a sowing pipe 2|, xedly connected with the frame of the machine, and with its other end to the operating rod 24 of the sliding mem- This spring tends to keep the sliding memberalways in the position below the opening II. If the rod 24 is drawn to the left, the sliding member brings the potato contained therekin above the sowing pipe 2|, and the potato rolls through the sowing pipe to the planting spot. The rod 24 is operated by an arm 20, xedly attached to a bush I9, which is rotatable about the spindle 6'. As shown in Fig. 3, the needle I0 has been placed on a separate doublearmed lever I2, rotatably connected with the arm 'I in a point 45. By means of a spring I3, the needle is normally kept in the upper position, but when a potato has been pinned up on the needle, the end is pressed down by the weight of the potato against the action of the light spring I3. In this position, a cam I4 on an arm I5 is kept locked. A spring I1 always tends to move the arm I5 to the left, but this arm is provided at its left-hand end with a roller I6, rolling along they circumference of the bush I9. In order to accommodate these parts, the arm 'I has been carried out hollow. When the arm 'I moves further upwards in its path 39, the roller I6 reaches a notch |8 in the bush I9. If, at that moment, the cam I4k is in the above-described locking position, i. e. if the needle IIJ has pinned up a potato, the roller I6 just passes the notch I8 without anything particular happening. However, if no potato has been pinned up, the needle IB has remained in its upper position and the cam I4 has therefore remained unlocked. In this case, the roller I6 jumps into the recess I8, and the bush I9 with the arm 20 is taken along, whereby the arm 24 is drawn to the left until the sliding member 44 strikes against the wall 46 of the upper mouth of the sowing pipe. Thus, a potato rolls into the sowing pipe 2|. After thesliding member 44 has been stopped, the roller I6 again leaves the notch I8, and the spring 23 draws the rod 24 and the arm 2B back into the zero position, in which a next potato can roll into the sliding member 44.

The diameter of the wheels 25, the transmission ratio between the axle 6 and the spindle 6', the length ofthe rotating arm 1, and the length and direction of the sowing pipe 2| may be so chosen with respect to each other that the potato, on leaving the lower end of the sowing pipe comes to rest in the same spot where the potato which ought to have been pinned up -by the needle I0 would have landed.

Fig. 6 shows `an improved embodiment of the feeler. The bush I9 with the arm 20 rotatable about the spindle which carries the arm l. The rod -24 actuates the stand-by device, which has not been shown, however. It may be carried out as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.Y A tube 55 has been slidably arranged around the arm. This tube carries the roller I6` at one of its. ends. The spring 52 draws the tube 59 into the direction of the spindle 6, .so Vthat the roller `I6 is pressed against the bush I9. lThe needle |D. is

movably arranged in such manner that the foot I of the needle comes to lie outside the body of the arm 'l after a potato has been pinned up. The needle then enters into the opening 53 provided in the tube 50 and referred to hereinafter as the locking slot. In the position as drawn, the arm 1 has just passed the appertaining funnel, which has not been shown. If a potato is present on the needle I6, the foot of the needle has moved to the outside into the locking slot 53. Upon further rotation in the direction of the arrow 54, the roller I6 will not be able to snap into the notch i8 under the action of the spring 52, as the foot 5| of the needle lies in the locking slot 53 and thereby limits the movement of the tube 56, or even practically completely prevents such movement, if the locking slot is sufficiently narrow. Therefore, the roller I6 does not fall into the notch I8, so that the bush I9 is not taken along by the arm 1. Hence, the stand-by device does not operate. However, if no potato were pinned up on the needle Ill, the foot 5| of the needle would not have moved outside of the body of the arm l. In that case, the movement of the tube 50 is not limited by cooperation of the needle foot 5l and the locking slot 53. As soon as the arm 'l has rotated in the direction of the arrow 54 over such a distance that the roller l5 lies above the notch I8, the tube 5B will be drawn by the spring 52 into the direction of the spindle 6', and the roller I6 will snap into the notch IS. Upon further rotation of the arm 7, the bush I9 will be taken along by the roller IS, so that the stand-by device enters into operation.

The above-described construction of the feeler presents the advantage, that no small vulnerable spindles, levers and the like are required, and that all moving parts are directly accessible. This is of importance with a view to lubrication, inspection and supervision of the operation. Moreover, the assembly is very simple.

As already indicated'above, the needle IB is movably arranged in such manner that the needle foot 5! moves outside the body of the arm l after a potato has been pinned up. This may be attained in various manners, to which Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are devoted. In these figures, only the outside end of the arm 'i has been shown.

Fig. '7 shows how the needle may be resiliently mounted. A cylindrical cavity 52 has been provided in the arm l, and is closed at the upper end by means of a screw stopper 6d. Openings are provided in the screw stopper 6d and in the bottom of the recess 62, in which the needle I@ may slide up and down freely. A ring 63 has been arranged on the needle, or may be integral with the needle, if desired. Between this ring and the bottom of the recess E52, a spring 6! has been placed around the needle Il), which pushes the needle upwards. However, this spring is so weak that it is compressed by the force working on a potato pinned up on the needle I D, whereby the needle slides down, and the needle foot 5| moves through the opening outside the body of the arm 1. This movement of the needle must take place after the pinning-up point has been passed, if a potato has been taken along at that point, but before the feeler enters into operation. Thus, it will be clear that the force working on the potato must be opposite to and larger than the force exerted by the spring 6I on the needle ID, at least during the last part of this phase of movement of the arm l. If use is made of gravity, care must be taken that the needle points upwards at the required moment, so that the needle may be moved down by the weight of the potato. Of course, the axis of rotation of the needle need not be exactly vertical, provided that care is taken that the component of the weight of a pinned-up potato working along the said axis is sufficient to overcome the spring pressure. It is also possible to make use of the centrifugal force working on a potato pinned up on the needle upon rotation of the arm. This force is directed to the outside. In this case, the point of the needle lll must be closer to the spindle t than the needle foot 5I, and the strength of the spring 6| must be chosen in such manner that the component of the centrifugal force working on a pinned-up potato in the direction of the laxis of the needle is suicient to compress the spring. When making use of the centrifugal force, the difficulty obtains that this force is dependent on the speed of rotation of the arm, i. e. of the speed of the planting machine. If this speed becomes too low, the feeler does not operate any more. However, it is Very well possible to choose the minimum speed so low, for instance 1/2 km. per hour that no trouble is experienced in practice. If use is made of the .force of gravity, as well as in making use of the centrifugal force, the spring el must be made so strong that the forceworking on the needle alone, which also occurs if no potato has been pinned up, is insufficient to overcome the spring pressure.

After passing the wiping-oit point, where the potato is removed, the needle l0 will again assume the position shown in Fig. 7 by the action of the spring 6 l Fig. 8 shows how friction may be used in connection with the movement of the needle. The needle Il) is provided over part of its length with av flattening 10. It may slide ina hole providedin the arm 1, and having a suiciently large diameter. Furthermore, a cylindrical recess 14 has been provided in the tube, which is closed by a screw stopper 13. A cylinder 1I may slide in this recess. This cylinder is pressed to the left by a spring 72, against the flat part of the flattening i0 of the needle l0. Thus, the needle in moving experiences a certain friction, dependent on the strength of the spring 12. The movement of the needle is limited by the cylinder 'I I, the stroke of the needle being equal to the difference between the length of the flattening 10 and the diameter of the cylinder l l. For moving the needle, a choice may be made out of three different forces, or combinations thereof, viz., the force appearing on pinning-up, the force of gravity, or the centrifugal force on the pinned-up potato. In general, the rst of these forces is the largest, and it may still be increased by making the needle point dull, or by roughening the needle surface. The friction of the needle must be adjusted in such manner that the friction is overcome by one of the said forces or by a combination thereof, if a potato is or has been pinned up, whilst this may not be the case for the force or forces working on the needle per se.

Fig. 9 shows another method for obtaining the friction. The needle I0 has again been provided with a flattening 10, and cooperates with a permanently magnetized cylinder 11 clamped in the arm l. The needle is drawn against this vcylinder by the magnetic force, so that the required friction is obtained. Hence, the needle must be made of a ferromagnetic material, ora

me www r Thesefvarious embodiments havethis in common that: the force working on the needle is 4caused by a magnetic eld.

Whenzthefarm 13 has passedV the ywiping-oli device,1 andt-thepotato pinned up on the-needle i has-:therefore been removedI from tthe needle; .the

needle: :.must be brought back Ato that position, wherein the'needlefoot-@SI lies Awithin the body of thenarmfl, before the feelerv again enters into operation. 4With theK embodiments according to Fig.^7,1thishappensas stated above,v by means ofthe-.spring Bl. With the embodiments-accordingto Figs.i8 andv9, however, this spring has notY been-:provided "This: may beattendedlto-y in the following imanner.

In wipingoi, thepotato is drawn from theA needle, whereby a force is exerted on the needle, whichfmay be usedy to return the needle to the above-mentioned position. However, in this case the-needle foot-5l must be able to move freely through 4the locking slot 53, `so that in the meantime lthetube() ofA Fig. 6 must have moved so far fromfthe` spindle E', against the action of the springe-52, that the needle foot is free. The force occurring` upon -wiping 01T may still be increased.

For` this purpose,` the needle must point down-` wards.

It is also possible, as shown in Fig. 8, to obtain the desired inward movement of the needlefoot by means of a cam provided-at the tube 50. In

that-case.' this tubemust move so far to the right,

by preference before passing the wiping-oir` point, thatthe needle' -foot 5I is pushed to the inside yby the oblique top of the camf 15. For this4 purpose, the 'needle foot couldlalsoi be provided'- with an obliquesurface. With the embodiment shown-in- Fig. 16,' this movement of thetube could bevv obtained -in-asimple manner -by providing the -outside of the bush I9 with a'suitable prole. After having brought the vneedle-foot 5l into'the desiredrposition; the tube 50: must be moved backto such-anextent that the needle foot-5| is in alignment-withthe1locking slot 53,- asthe 'needle' foot 5l-must-beable to moveoutside'of the -bodyof thelar-m. Tand i-nto the loekingfslot'A 53 uponthe ensuingA operationofthe feeler, if--al potato has armwis provided withafneedle Y199, and -ffwith--a'f wipingeoff Hdevice `IM'LLAI,'153.-as1shovvny infFig. i3. The` arm 80 isattached tozabush 8l .whichis'freely rotatable aboutzthespindle: 6.. Theicamsdiscs 82nsandt84fare. lxedly arrangediandthe cam `disc has two cam followers 85 and 86, cooperating'with the cam discs 82 and-.83. A, pin, 88, xedly: conneotedwith Athe `arm l,- extendsthrough a `slot 81 in,.the..tube.50. .Between the pin.-88andthe cam followers 85, 86 a vcompressionspring:52..is arranged, -.which .presses ytl-1e tube .50 intothe direction of `the spindle-B'. shown, the needle.V l0 is; justmovingthrough the pinningfup space, which has not been shown.,75

The cam* follower'' lies on` the projectionBS of In the l .position Y thescamfztdisczitlzgsoi that thercam followeredoe's notsengage `.the/cam disc :83. The;,footzo'f the needle t0; lwhich .is'znot yvisible the` iigure: is: in alignment vwith the locking slot' of the vtubeSII.

Now, ifzaapotato'is-.pinnedl up in the pinningup space, thexneedle` footxfwill move tothe-outside into ithe. locking zslot. .Upon: further rotationgof the arm 5.1i in the .direction-'10i the arrow/'90,l the cam follower 85l .will;.|1eave4 the .projection Szof the -ca-m fdisc182; Now; .thezspring 52;tries; toV move the tube 50 in-.the :direction .of the spindle f6. However, aszthenneedlejfoot liesin the vlocking slot,'.the tube;is.iooked,. so that lupon:further-rotationtthe.camfollowe1m85is made free from l.the lower .partA ofi .the .ca-rnsdisov A82. following .the projection-:89. :The cam ;disc V83 .carries `a toothshaped; projecting ,parti 9 l "which is so low, yhowever :that the gcamg-followerV 86- passes overl this part ifithe .ttube50;;-is locked, i. ,e..if.a: potato is .presentgon the needle: [0. Nothingparticular happens-in this` :oase Upon further-'rotation A.of the :arm 1, thepotatois .wipedofias described hereinbefore. After that,dthe .arm 'l again-moves tozthe-pinning-up space. Before this vspace is reached, :the cam follower :'85 again runs .up againstttlieprojectionl, so ,that the 'tube 50 is .shiftedzagainst theaction of, the spring 52, and thei needle. I 0.. is: freely movable. The: needle foot is Lor.. has beenbrought inside. the `body of the'arm inoneiof the-abovefdescribed manners,-and the needleaisragain ready to react; to the; presencetof a potatozafter .the apinningfup spacefhasrbeen passed.

Assuming thatV notpotato has: .been pinned up, the operation is as follows: Theneedle foot-'has not moved to the outside .into .the locking slot. Henoethe tube 50Ihas notfbeenlocked. rUpon further-rotation of'thearml in` the direction, of the -arrowzrllkY thecam follower-85 will run ldown from .the projection' 89, andY the' tube. 55 `moves in the direction roftl'ie spindle .under theaction of the spring,A soit-hat: the camffollower continuouslyruns on thezcam disc. 'Hence the `cam follower is also closerto the 'spindle 6', and cannot pass the tooth' l. Thecam' disc-83 is -now coupled with the armi andthe 'spindle -6 1 bythe cam ,g follower y85, f together :with thev bushV 8 I and the-stamd-xbyarm 80. i When the arm'l passes the wiping-offgpoint, vit cannot deliver a, potato. iHow- @vergat .theJsa-zne time the4 stand-byarmz 80 passes theassociated wiping-offpoint, so that the potato igpinnedxup on Ythis' arm is removed therefrom andA takes'. .the place: ofthe .potato which :ought to have beenpresent onltlie'main arm-,1. 'By means of. sui-tablepipes and/or channels, itis-of course possibletogobtain infafsimple manner that .this potato 92 falls into the same sowing' pipe, or on the: samespotof the furrow asa potato pinned up on the'mainzarm' 1. l

After; hav-ing passedthefwiping-oi point, the standby arm is taken; :further .alongrthrough an associated ,pinning-.up space, -ewhich the; standg-,by arm `passes at'thesame momentthat the main arm, temporarily coupled withl the-fstand-by arm, passes its associatedgpinning-up Space. Now, .if thev mai-nzarm takes alongzaxpotato, the. tubef50 will again be locked,- so that the coupling between the Ycam follower SSandthe-tOOth-SI does not occur'lagain. The stand-by arm will then be stoppedvinthe'position shown in-the drawing, Whilst the frna-inarm `continues to rotate. An additionalmechanismhas been provided forstopping' the stand-by arm, which atthe same time causes'the standfby arm always .to remaincoupled with the main armduring exactly one complete revolution. This is because the coupling 86-9| c-annot serve for this purpose, since the cam follower 95 runs over the projection 89 during part of the revolution of the main arm 1, whereby the coupling between the parts 9| and 86 is interrupted. This is why an auxiliary coupling is required. This mechanism will now be described.

A rod 93 is slidable on the tube 8| in parallel to the spindle B'. This rod is drawn to the right (as shown in the drawing) by a spring 95, so that its end 99 runs along the front side of the cam disc 89. At the other end 99, the rod 93 has been led through the cam disc 83 so as to extend beyond this disc over a small distance. If the stand-by arm stands still, the end 94 of the rod 93 lies in the recess 98 of the cam disc 89. A block 91 is keyed to the spindle 6. If a potato is present on the main arm 1, so that the cam follower 86 passes the tooth 9|, the block 91 also just passes the end 98 of the rod 93. However, if no potato is present on the main arm, the cam follower 99 will take along the tooth 9|, so that the bush 9| starts to rotate. Hence, the end 99 of the rod 99 is pressed into the recess 98, so that the rod 93 is moved to the left against the action of the spring 95. The end 99 also moves to the left, so that the block 91 cannot pass this end any more. This condition is maintained during a complete revolution. Upon the interruption of the coupling between the tooth 9| and the cam follower S9, caused by the cam follower 85 passing over the projection 89, the block 91 will now take along the rod 93, together with the bush 9| and the stand-by arm, until the latter again reaches the position shown in the drawing. At that moment, the end 99 snaps into the recess 98, whereby the auxiliary coupling 95-91 is interrupted. The stand-by arm has now made exactly one revolution. If a potato is present on the main arm, the tooth 9| will not be taken along by the cam follower 9S. By taking care that the friction experienced by the stand-by arm upon rotation due to the end 93 running up against the back side of the recess 98 is greater than the friction between the bush 8| and the spindle 6', it is obtained that the stand-by arm 89 will be stopped in the position shown in the drawing, together with the bush 8| and the cam disc 83. However, if no potato is presentl on the main arm 1, the tooth 9| is taken along by the cam follower 99, and the stand-by arm 99 again rotates together with the arm 1 and the spindle 9 during one revolution, as described hereinbefore. For the rest, it will be clear that the same eil'ect may be obtained by making the auxiliary coupling 96-'91 only operative during that part of the revolution of the main arm, wherein the cam follower 85 lies on the projection 99.

In comparison with other possible forms of construction of the stand-by device, it is an advantage of the described embodiment that the device has the shape of a second rotatable arm. This is because the arms 1 and 89 may be constructed without any objection in the same manner, whereby the number of dilerent parts is limited. Moreover, it has turned out that the above-described embodiment works better than other embodiments, in particular better than the embodiment described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.

If the main arm misses once, the stand-by arm automatically becomes operative. It delivers one potato, and after that in the above-described embodiment, it rotates once through the associated pinning-up space. Of course, it is conceivable that the stand-by arm does not take along a potato during this single revolution. In that case, it is stopped, and upon the next failure of the main arm it will be taken along, but will not be able to deliver a potato. Thus, none of the arms delivers a potato and the machine skips one planting hole. Although this condition will occur relatively rarely (much less often than a failure of the main arm), it may still be undesired under certain circumstances. In any case, it means a reduction of the harvest, although this reduction may be a small one. In laying out testplots, it may happen that one wants to be practically certain that no planting holes are skipped. With reference to the nexttwo embodiments, it will be shown hereinafter how the potato planting machine may be further perfected to such extent that a failure is practically out of the question. y

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment, wherein many parts are identical with those shown in Fig. 10. I'hese parts have been indicated by the same reference numerals. The function of these parts is also the same. However, the arm 89 is not xedly connected with the bush 8| in this embodiment, but it is slidable in a tube connected with the bush 8|. This tube is provided at its right-hand end with a locking slot, which is not visible in the drawing. The needle 99 is movably arranged. This needle 99 forms, together with the tube |95 and the arm 89 a feeler, appertaining to the stand-by arm 89. This feeler has the object to establish whether a potato is present on the needle 99. A slot |98 is pro-- vided in the tube |95. A pin-shaped cam follower |99, extending through this slot, is lixedly connected with the slidably arranged arm 89. The pin |96 is fixedly connected with the tube |95. Between the pin |96 and the cam follower |99, a compression spring |91 is provided, which presses the arm 89 in the direction of the spindle 6. This spindle is provided with a key groove ||9. The arm 89 is wedge-shaped at the end facing the spindle 6', the flat end of the wedge being parallel to the spindle 8 and tting in the key groove I9. The cam follower |99 cooperates with the xedly arranged cam disc which is provided with a projection I2, and corresponds to the fixedly arranged cam disc 82.

As the part to the left of the cam disc completely corresponds with Fig. 10, it will be clear that on a failure of the arm 1, the arm 89 is again taken along during one revolution, as fully described hereinbefore. Now, the arms have been drawn in the position they have on the moment on which they both pass the associated pinning-up spaces. Hence, both needles are empty. If the main arm 1 does' not pick up a potato, the stand-by arm 89 will be taken along during the next complete revolution by the action of the couplings 86--9I and SES-91, in the same manner as described with reference to Fig. 10.

If the main arm does pick up a potato, the couplings Bti-9| and 98-91 become inoperative, as described hereinbefore. In that case, there are two possibilities, depending on whether the standby arm has or has not picked up a potato.

If a potato has been picked up, the foot of the needle 99 moves into the locking slot of the tube |95, which is in alignment with this needle foot in the position shown in the drawing. Thus, the arm 89 and the tube 95 are locked together, and when the cam follower |99 has left the projection ||2 of the cam disc the arm 89 cannot move action ofthe spring I 01.

shaped insizdefend of'the armz-Sv-does notsnap '1-1 in :thefdi-rection of ,the spindle .6', in spitev of 'the That .is-why the wedgeinto tthe key-groovef-I so that vnothing .particulari' happens,- ,and the` arm 8i) is stopped in the positiomin which the :end 94 of the rod 93 .snaps into. the recessvv S8 of the-cam Y- disc -8f| ;v justas Y in Eig;l 101.1.

vIi therstarmi-byI arm ,does lnot pickup a potato; the .-foot' of the.needle,99 remains `inside the body .of;the arm 80,andno lockingbetween the armi 8|).j and the tube: |05 is.: obtained. When thefaoam--follower |09` leaves` the-projection l2 the arm- Ml performs:` a movement in the -fdirectionofrtheSpindlef6f bythe-action of the `spring |01... Hencer the.,wedge.shap ed lett-hand: end

, oLthe'farm 80,v whichpfcourseis-invisible-in the ,gurefalls into` thekeyI groove; I lli. The stand-by, arm thereby, remainsl coupled with the spindle 6 if this arm does not pick up a potato, fin .spite ofVV the-inoperativeness of the coug plings SB-SLandB-SJ in thepositiom in which the sta-ndeby .arm stopped .in Fig. l0. The standbyarmis.therefore-takenfalong beyond this point, and-.oncethis has happened, thevccu-pl-ing eti-91 v agan-enters-into,.operation.asfindicated in Fig.

10. This, coupling ltakes-care thattthe' stand-by arm is .taken along for a completeV revolution, also -iflthe 1co11pling86-9l has lnot been -eiected due -to the. presence ofI a-potatoon the main f arm,

andinspite of -th'e fall-ing cutwof thewcoupling bctweenthe..wedgefshaped end ofthe arm Si? and thefkey--groove I Ill` tduring thetime, wherein the cam ,follower |ll9slides along the projection l |,|,2. The consequence isthat the stand-by rarm wilLrotatetogether withr thespindle 6 as` long as it,doesnot-piclnupa potato, and that it .will be,stoppedonly.V if, both thefmain arm and the stanti-.by arm` have, picked Lup a Y. p otato: Then, therooupling 6.-91 ifalls .out at Athe Ymomentthat thendkhas reachedthe.A recess .98. and as lthe couplings., BIL-9L and 80E-I |0 are. already, inoperatiye.. b ecausethepotatoes Ypresx-:nt on the mainl `arm andthe stand-,byv army .have brought aboutthe-lockingrof the tubetiand the arm 3i),`

thestandrby arm'.l isA stopped Upon asubsequent failure-of themain arm, it is .-practicallycertain thata potato is present on the vstand-by4 arm.. Th-.usfthe machine ==fails only when the standfby armv does not succeed in pick- Y ingupA anpotatobetween two subsequent failures ofi-,the ,main arm. The n-umberofrevolutions of themain armbetween Atwo successive failures thereof .jisso great inpractice,l however-and the chancethatlthe standffby, arm doesl not piclcup a potato, during-,.allrtheserevolutions is. so small, that this..possibilityy need nottbetaken into am count atfall', lat 'it .hassuch 4,an exceedingly Vsmall probability,

It'will becleanthatthefunction of :the wedge- -shaped, lefteh'and end, of the arm. B i together with the keygrooveA I |01is equal ,to that of the cam;86 togetherwith the camdisc 83. The key groove] lwith the adjoining part ofthe spindle mayk also Ybe considered as a cam disc-rotating together', with the. ,spindle 6' which .-is, accidentally integral `with the spindle..

The feeler assocatedwith; the stand-by .arm Yllt may also be. carried out with advantage in another, manner, ,for instance Aas described herein beforefor the feeler.. ofthe main arm according `to FigsL, 7, Sand v9, or as describediorthe feeler of 'the embodiment of Figs. 1-,5L

Inthe preferredembodiment shown in Fig.- 12,

the. main, .arm ,and l the stando-by. arm are., com-A equally constructed in .that case.

Theparts V.in Fig.l2. that are identical with thoseofFig. 11 have` been indicated by the same reference numerals., The. parts oftheY stand-by arm in Fig. 12 have been indicated ,by reference numerals corresponding with those of the ,-corresponding `parts lof Ythernain arm, butfprovided withran accent In the embodiment according; to Fig; 12,` the camy disc 84A has been arrangedmore to,the.right andfhasrbeen proiled at the outside, se that-it performs, at thesarne time fthefunction of the cam discs 8d .andl |I offFignll.

Both arms. have beendrawn inithe .same position asin Fig. l1. The part ,of Vthe figuratoA the left of the arm'v 'I' fullyy corresponds with that-of Figs. 10-,andll. Thus, the stand-byvarm 1 will be taken along for one revolutionby the spindle 6*, Vas fully described hereinbefore. If, in the embodiment of Fig. Al0 the mai-n armdidpick-rup a Apotato,.the stand-by arm'was vstopped dueto the falling out Vof .the coupling-BG-S-'I1atathemomentthatthe endof the rod 93epassed the recess S8; as the coupling 86--9I hadialready fallen out. In Fig.'1l,.a.third coupling (8D-l I0) became operative atithis moment, whereby-the stand-by arm was takenfurther along, until vit hady also pickedup a--potato, so that the third coupling -became inoperative. Here, thetaking along of the stand-by arm until it haspicked up a vpotato is` realized `in! anothergmanner.

If thev stand-by--arm 1 picksl upfapotato, the needle l0! is pushed 1in, so thatfthe--foot-of this needle entersintd the lockingslot of thetube 5U' and. this tube is. locked. Now; the camfollower 86. of this ltuloeis Y`provided with van Aextension ,I2 cooperating. with Ythe projection- IZB/of the rod 93. Ifthetube 50! islocked; theextension |2| does not prevent` the displacement of the rod 93,-as theprojection Zcan slide -just fbetween the bush `8i `and the side of the-extension |2| facing that bush.l J-ust as in-Fig: 10, the-coupling 96-91 falls o-utvwhen the end 94 passes the recess98.- If ai potato is present on the Ymain arm, thetube59 is locked. thereby, and: the coupling 89| is-l inoperative. The stand-'by arm will then, standstill, just as'innFig. 10u` If no potato' is; present on the. main arm 1, the couplings-9| continues to exist-and the'standby arm will nowl continue to rotate, anddeli'vers a potato, aszin Fig. 101.-

However, if 'the stand-by arm doesnotpi'ckup apotato, the tube tillr is not locked, andz'this tube will -make Ya 4movement towards lthe spindle 6' under the'actionr of the fspring52 Whenthe camv follower 85' leaves the projectionv 39'. Hence, the extension l2 of the cam followers comes to lie on the outside ofthe bush 8|: When the end 94 ynow passes the recessf; kthe 'rod' 93 will-,not beableto move to the lright.' underfthe action of thespring .95,V as the projectionf |2'cannot pass the extension |2| lying on the 4outside of the bush. Thus, the auxiliarycoupling 96.-.91 is locked inits operativeposition'bythe extension |2|, so that the stand-by; arm- 1'. vwill betaken alongfby the spindleetl'fl Theizawciliaryfcoupling is unlocked only when the stand-by' arm 1' has picked up a potato, whereby the tube 5B is locked and the extension |2I remains raised from the outer surface of the bush 8|.

Just as in Fig. l1, the main arm rotates continuously. The stand-by arm rotates along until it has picked up a potato, and is then stopped in the position in which the end 94 lies in the recess 98. If the main arm fails to pick up a potato, the stand-by arm starts to rotate together with the main arm and delivers a potato instead of the main arm. After that, it rotates along with the main arm until it has picked up a potato, and then remains standing until the main arm again fails to pick up a, potato.

I claim:

l. A potato planting machine, comprising a storage tank for seed-potatoes, a pinning-up space, feeding means for supplying said seedpotatoes from said storage tank to said pinningup space, at least one rotatable arm, a needle attached to the end of said arm, pointing in the direction of rotation thereof and passing through said pinning-up space upon rotation of said arm so as to pin up and to take along a potato, a wiping-off device permanently arranged in the path of said needle and adapted to wipe off a pinned-up potato, a feeler for detecting the absence of a potato on said needle after the same has passed said pinning-up space, and a standby device controlled by said feeler for delivering Y a potato in the absence of a potato on said needle.

2. A potato planting machine, comprising a storage tank for seed-potatoes, at least one arm rotatable in a Vertical plane, a needle attached through said funnel upon rotation of said arm f so as to pin up and to take along a potato, said wiping-off device being adapted to wipe oif a pinned-up potato, and a feeler for detecting the absence of a potato on said needle after the same has passed said funnel, a sliding member placed underneath said opening in its Zero position, an operating arm for said sliding member, and coupling means controlled by said feeler for temporarily coupling said operating arm with said rotatable arm.

3. A potato planting machine, comprising a storage tank for seed-potatoes, at least one arm rotatable in a vertical plane, a needle attached to the end of said arm and pointing in the direction of rotation thereof, a funnel placed in a vertical position so that the axis of said funnel touches the path of said needle and provided with a slot for passing said needle, feeding means for supplying said seed-potatoes from said storage tank to said funnel, a wiping-oir device perma- "i nently arranged in such manner as to pass through said funnel upon rotation of said arm so as to pin up and to take along a potato, said wiping-off device being adapted to Wipe off a pinned-up potato, and a feeler for detecting the absence of a potato on said needle after the same has passed said funnel, a sliding member placed underneath said opening in its zero position, an operating arm for said sliding member, and coupling means controlled by said feeler for teml 14 porarily coupling said operating arm with said rotatable arm and an actuating rod for said coupling means, wherein the said feeler is formed as a lever adapted to lock said actuating rod when a potato has been pinned up on said needle.

4. A potato planting machine as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a shaft for rotating said rotatable arm, a bush freely arranged on said shaft, and a roller provided at the end of said actuating rod, and running over said bush, the said bush being provided with a notch, and the said roller being adapted to snap into said notch in the unlocked condition of said actuating rod so as to form a coupling between said rotatable arm and said bush.

5. A potato planting machine as claimed in claim 4, further comprising means for arresting the said sliding member in its operative position until the said roller has run out of said notch, and a spring for drawing back the said sliding member and the said bush in their zero positions.

6. A potato planting machine, comprising a storage tank for seed-potatoes, vat least one arm rotatable in a vertical plane, a needle attached to the end of said arm and pointing in the direction of rotation thereof, a funnel placed in a vertical position so that the axis of said funnel touches the path of said needle and provided with a slot for passing said needle, feeding means for supplying said seed-potatoes from said storage tank to said funnel, a wiping-oir device permanently arranged in such manner as to pass through said funnel upon rotation of said arm so as to pin up and to take along a potato, said wiping-01T device being adapted to Wipe oif a pinned-up potato, and a feeler for detecting the absence of a potato on said needle after the same has passed said funnel, a sliding member placed underneath said opening in its zero position, a sowing pipe, an operating arm for said sliding member, and coupling means controlled by said feeler for temporarily coupling said operating arm with said rotatable arm, and an inlet mouthpiece for said sowing pipe, the said sliding member being formed as a ring movable from a zero position underneath said opening to an operating position above said sowing pipe, said mouthpiece extending under the said sliding member in its zero position so as to form a bottom for said ring.

7. A potato planting machine, comprising a storage tank fol` seed-potatoes, at least one arm rotatable in a Vertical plane, a needle attached to the end of said arm and pointing in the direction of rotation thereof, a funnel placed in a vertical position so that the axis of said funnel touches the path of said needle and provided with a slot for passing said needle, feeding means for supplying said seed-potatoes from said storage tank to said funnel, a wiping-off device permanently arranged in such manner as to pass through said funnel upon rotation of said arm so as to pin up and to take along a potato, said wiping-on device being adapted to wipe off a pinned-up potato, and a yfeeler for detecting the absence of a potato on said needle after the same has passed said funnel, a sliding member placed underneath said opening in its zero position, an operating arm for said sliding member, and coupling means controlled by said feeler for temporarily coupling said operating arm with said rotatable arm, and operating means connected with said feeler for actuating said coupling means, wherein the said rotatable arm is provided with a cavity, and the said feeler and thefsaid foperatingxmeans areiarranged 'in'.said

cavity'.. a

8..A.potato plantngfmachine, .comprising a storage` tankrfor seed-potatoes, a Ypinning-up space, feeding means #for Asupplying lsaid seedpotatoesfromisaid storage tank to said pinningup.:space,'at least `one rotatable arm, a needle attachedto the end of 'said arm, pointing in the direction of vrotationthereof vand passing through said pinning up'space upon rotation of said arm so as'toipinupand to take along a potato, a wiping-01T device permanently arranged in the path'of said' needle and adapted to wipe .off a pinned-up potato, a vfeeler for detecting the absence of a potato on said needle. after the same has .passed saidzpinning-up'space, and a .standby' device'controlled by said feeler for delivering a'potato inthe'absence of a potato on said needle, the said feeler comprising a tube enclosing the said rotatable arm and slidable along said arm.

9;1Ap0tato plantingmachine as claimed in claim .8, wherein. the said .needle is movably arranged in such manner that the foot of the needle moves outsidethe body ofithe said 'rotatable armawhena potato is pinned `up on said needle-so as to serve as a stop member for limiting the movement of said tube.V

10. A potatoplanting machine as claimed in claimt), further comprising a spring acting to keep said Vtube in a predetermined position with respect to' said arm, and'means for displacing saidtube from said position againstthe 'action ofsaid springbefore said arm passes said pinning-up space and for keeping the tube so displaced as saidarm passes said pinning-up space.

ll. Apotato planting machine as claimed in claim Al0, wherein the said means for displacing thetubefare operative before the said arm reaches the said wiping-off device.

l2. A potato planting machine as claimed in clairnf 9, further` comprising resilient means acting to keep the foot of the said needle inside the body-ofV said arm.

13. A potato planting machine as vclaimed in claim -9, wherein the-said needle is movable in a longitudinal directionV with such a friction as to be only displaced by the pinning-up of a potato.

14. Apota-to planting machine as claimed in claim Il, wherein'the said wiping-oir device is arranged in such `a 4position that the said needle points downward in passing the said device.

15. A potato planting machine as claimed in claim. 13, further comprising means for exerting a magnetic force substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of .said needle.

16. A potato planting machine, comprising a storagel tank for seed-potatoes, a. pinning-up space, feeding means for supplying said seedpotatoes from said storage tank to said pinningup space, at least one rotatable arm, a needle attached to the end of said arm, pointing in the direction of rotation thereof and passing through said pinning up space upon rotation of said arm so as to pin up and to take along a potato, a'wiping-off device permanently arranged in the pathY of saidV needle and adapted to wipe off a inned-up potato, a feeler for detecting the absence-of a potato on said needle after the same has-passed said pinning-up space, and a standby device controlled by said feeler for delivering a. potato in the absence of a potato on said needle, saidstand-bydevice .comprising a second rotatable arm, a second needle attached to the Vend of vsaidsecond. arm and pointing in`the direction of rotation thereoiand means controlledibynsaid 16 feelery for vcoupling said. secondf;armwithfsaid first-mentioned arm iduring at 1 leastl `onefcomplete revolution in the absence of a potatdxon said rst-mentioned needle.;

17. A potato planting machine as `claimed in claim 16, further ,comprising a second feelerfor detecting the absence of Va potato on saidsecond needle, and means controlled by said'second feeler for keeping the said second arm .coupled with the saidrst-.mentioned arm until; a potato has been pinned up on said second needle.

18. A potato planting machine as claimed in claim 17, further comprising an operatingfrod for actuating the saidmeans keepingthefsaid secondV arm coupled with the said first-'mentioned arm, the said second feeler being formed as a lever locking the said operating rod when a potato is pinned up onsaid second needle.v

19. A potato planting machine as claimed in claim 17,' wherein the said second arm is provided with a cavity, and wherein the said second feeler is arranged insaid cavity.

20. A potato planting machine as claimedin claim 17, wherein'the said second feeler and the said second needle are substantially identical with the said first-mentioned feeler and the said first-'mentioned needle.

21. Apotato planting machine as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a second pinningup space and a second wiping-off device, both associated with said second arm, and substantially identical with the said rst-mentioned pinning up space and wiping-oir device.

22. A potato planting `machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the said feeler comprises a tube slidably enclosing said rst-mentioned arm Vand provided with two cams, further comprising'a rst cam disc cooperating with one of the said cams, Xedly andl concentrically arranged around the common axis of rotation of the said first-mentioned and the'said second arm, and adapted to displace said tube with respect to said first-mentioned arm, a second cam disc cooperatingwith the other one 0f the said cams, lxedly connected with said second arm and adapted to `be carried along by said other cam upon the return movement of said tube in the absence of a potato on said first-mentioned needle, and auxiliary coupling means for coupling the said mst-mentioned and the said second arm during that part of the revolution of said inst-mentioned arm wherein said tube is displaced, the second arm being stopped by friction if not coupled with the said first-mentioned arm.

23. A potato planting machine as'claimed in claim 17, wherein the said second feeler comprises a tube provided with two cams, further comprising a driving shaft for said first-men- .tioned arm, around which the said tube is rotatable, a first cam disc cooperating with one of the said cams, xedly and concentrically arranged around the common axis of rotation of the said inst-mentioned and the said second arm and adapted to displace said second arm with respect to said tube, a second cam disc cooperating with the other one'ofithe said cams, xedly connected with .said first-mentioned arm and adapted to take along thexsaid other cam upon the returnr movement of said second arm inthe absenceof aipotatoion said second needle so I as to take along saidY second arm, and auxiliary couplingmeans -betweensaid rst-mentionedand said second-armythesaidsecondr arm *being-dis- 17 18 placed during the operation of the said aux- REFERENCES CITE iliary coupling means- The following references are of record in the 24. A potato planting machine as claimed in me of this patent. claim 22, further comprising a second feeler for detecting the absence of a potato on said second 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS needle, the said auxiliary coupling means being Nmnber Name Date locked by said second feeler in the absence 0f 1,843,229 Histl Feb. 2, 1932 a potato on said second needle so as to keep Said 2,161,342 Francis June 6, 1939 second arm coupled with said first-mentioned arm until a potato has been pinned up on said 10 second needle.

CHRISTIANUS THEODORUS SMITS. 

